The incident was acknowledged by Superintendent Sharon Contreras, who told the Post-Standard that a 12-year-old girl had been pushed into a bathroom by a boy, kissed and kept inside against her will. She stressed that the girl was not harmed.

Syracuse Police Sgt. Tom Connellan told a different story based on an interview with the girl at her home. He said there were three boys involved, one of whom has been charged with forcible touching because he groped the girl's private parts over her clothes.

The differing accounts triggered a flurry of conversation in the comments on the story. Here's a sample:

From cnycusefan: I commend the PTO President for...doing the right thing. After all, public education is FOR & ABOUT the kids, not promoting false PR about Syracuse schools. How about some strict code of conduct rules signed by all parents, students, the Superintendent, BOE, PTO presidents, LEO and staff, so there is NO misunderstanding as to what a sex offense is. What side of the table os this BOE on? Glad my kids never attended school in Syracuse.

From nsyrguy: The Commission revising the SCSD Code of Conduct should immediately include a statement prohibiting students from assaulting one another in restrooms. That should take care of the problem. We have become a society afraid to address issues with actual solutions, or punishments, where justified. Instead we prefer to codify unjustifiable behavior and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.

From citydweller: I have been saying for years that the community is reflected in the schools...as violence escalates (and is tolerated by residents of those communities) so does the violence in the schools. People with families will not come to live in Syracuse OR they leave in droves...this is the reality!!! We need a large, vocal grassroots movement - call it "Take back our city" or something like that, to be the voice or truth in reporting ALL of the incidents.....come and see, if you don't believe.

From annoyed31: Well, with the amount if comments this has inspired hopefully, the media is listening! It takes for people to get together, talk and share what's wrong and for the media to involve their powers to inspire the rest of the community.